December/January Project

Hello class,

Believe it or not, we're beyond half way through the semester! We've covered a lot; I've thrown a lot at you all and some of you have really progressed and shown applied knowledge.

Artists must be free - and not restricted with their craft (BUT NOT "FREE" with their class behavior). I don't believe in censoring your imaginations. It's important to me to attempt to stimulate it.

We've been mainly observing significant manga, anime and graphic novels such as Barefoot Gen, Princess Mononoke, Persepolis, etc. In spare time, people have been reading on their own "Shonen Manga", which is Manga marketed towards young male adults between the ages of 10-18. While this is fine, in today's class I will attempt to once again expand the boundries of what anime can be; we'll be watching "Spirited Away" which is a fantasy anime for audiences for children between the ages of 7 and 77.

BUT: I am expecting a lot from all of you in the next two months. And I have a written assignment of what I am expecting.

In groups of 2 or more, I am expecting to see:

* 10-15 pages of manga that demonstrates an understanding of figurative, iconic, abstract and perspective drawing.
* A written script constructed before the manga itself
* 2-3 character studies IN FULL color with background and "STATS" (AKA - name, hometown, fears, age, height, weight and a brief discription of who the character is). The character must be
* Documentation of the process (MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE PRODUCT FOR ACADEMIC REASONS! SEE THE ABOVE IMAGES FOR INFLUENCE)

The manga can be longer than 15 pages. I am asking you to work in groups because you will learn from one another.

This is a group project that have formed organically in the class. If you are not a part of a group, JOIN ONE. If nobody wants you in their group, ... consider why and don't victimized yourself as "unpopular". You are all creative. You all have voices. You can all contribute.


Individually, I am expecting:

* A 4-6 page paper (double spaced) reviewing and CRITICING a manga novel of your choice. Please bring in the manga of your choice for me to see prior to writing. Go to libraries to check out a manga. Please notify me if you have difficulties getting your hands on a manga. Please critic on the art AND writing of the manga.

Some suggestions:
* Barefoot Gen
* The Works of Osamu Tezuka
* Deathnote

Graphic Novels are also in this list (american comic books or Manga)
Some Suggestions:

* Maus
* Persepolis
* Blankets
* Palestine
* Epileptic


These two assignments will be due at the end of January. I will not tolerate a mentality of "I'm Done" - meaning the more art you have, the better your grade is. The above is simply the MINIMUM. REMEMBER what Michelangelo says: "In order to be a great artist, you must DRAW DRAW DRAW".

If the above assignments are not completed, you will receive an incomplete, which is the equivalent of an F. But more importantly, you will not be included in our classes final and official "Edwards Middle School Manga" Volume 1.

Please ask if you have any questions. You can also contact me at mr.jackwhturnbull@gmail.com